European Space Agency Launches XMM [10 December 1999] - In July 1999, NASA launched an extraordinary X-ray telescope named
Chandra. At a distance one-third of the way to the moon, the telescope's
deep, lonely orbit gives it an unimpeded view of distant exploding stars
and clusters of galaxies. Now Chandra has company, a European satellite called XMM that is every bit as impressive.

Chandra Observatory Launch Lights Up the Night Sky [23 July 1999] - X-ray astronomy moved into the 21st century today with the launch of the
Chandra X-ray Observatory (CXO). Shortly before 12:30 a.m. EDT, the Space
Shuttle Columbia blasted off from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
Under the command of Lt. Colonel Eileen Collins, the shuttle will begin to
deploy CXO later today in their 5 day mission.

Brighter than an Exploding Star, It's a Hypernova! [20 May 1999] - In a galaxy not so far away - only 25 million light-years - astronomers
have found what looks like are the remnants of strange celestial explosions
called hypernovae. "Hypernovae are possibly the most powerful explosions in
our Universe since the Big Bang," said Q. Daniel Wang, an astrophysicist at
Northwestern University. Such explosions are more powerful than supernovae,
the spectacular death gasps of stars some 5-10 times more massive than our
Sun. In fact, hypernovae may produce some 100 times more energy than
supernovae. But what are these explosions and what causes them? Astronomers
are not sure at this point. It is hoped that the discovery of these two
suspected hypernova remnants, called MF83 and NGC5471B, located in the
nearby spiral galaxy M101 will allow astrophysicists to infer their true
nature.

STS-93 Readies for Lift-Off with Chandra Observatory[28 January 1999] - The next Shuttle flight will occur sometime in the Spring of 1999,
and carry in its payload bay NASA's next X-ray astronomy satellite.
The exact date for launch is not yet determined due to a recent
delay, but it will occur no earlier than April 8. This flight will
also be the first time a woman astronaut, US Air Force Colonel
Eileen Collins, will serve as the Flight Commander. STS-93 will
be
the 94th Space Shuttle flight, and the 26th flight for the orbiter
Columbia.